In reply to your request for some statement of the effects of the past winter upon the New Evergreens, I can only repeat more or less of my former experience.

Though the winter generally was much less severe in cold than many previous ones, and the spring was equally favorable, yet about the average amount of disease and disaster has taken place, though not always in the same, or even expected subjects. A coniferous friend of mine, and an experienced (though now discouraged) planter of the half hardies, has a theory, that the life of an imported tree depends mainly upon the amount of vitality which it brings over with it across the water, and unless immediately adapting itself to this climate, it gains no new strength from being transplanted here, and only survives as long as its foreign tone and vigor continue to support it, and as this year by year fades out, the tree passes away with it.

I have been coming very unwillingly to a similar conclusion the past year or so, for I think it within the experience of most planters of imported trees, (which are not unquestionably hardy,) that they sometimes look worse and grow less every; succeeding year, until they entirely fade away. More than this: when we find a tree able to withstand a winter such as 1860-1, where the thermometer indicated, in February, 18 to 20 degrees below zero, and apparently doing well and growing vigorously the succeeding summer, we are very apt to make up our minds that this tree is quite safe at this temperature hereafter, and are very much surprised and puzzled to find it does not withstand the succeeding winter when as favorable as the past year. I find several trees here dead this spring which have sustained several winters a cold of 15 degrees below zero; among them the Euonymus mara tima, the Chamaecyparis variegata, Glyptostrobus hetrophyllus, etc. Now this winter has not destroyed them; but if my friend's theory is correct, they were obliged to give up so much of their English vitality during the winter of 1860-1, that they had not enough left to carry them through the winter of 1861-2.

We all know, I believe, that foreigners always suffer less from heat and cold the first year of their residence in this country than natives, and do not for their first year readily lose the fine florid look belonging to all healthy Englishmen; the second and third year both the color disappear from their cheeks and tone from their constitutions. Why may not the same be true of plants 1

I have been led to make these remarks, to show how difficult it is to make any decisive rules by which we can judge of the entire hardihood of any plant, except after the experience of a long series of years has proved it to be so.

Among the new things which have gone through this winter With entire success are, Thujopsis borealis, Chamaecyparis thurifera, Cupressus Lawsoniana, Pinus Beadsleyi, P. Jeffreyi, P. Benthamiana, Abies amabilis, A. grandis, A. lasciocarpa, A. Parsoniana, A. Pattonii, A. Hookerii.

The latter is said to be one of the handsomest of evergreens, having the grace of form and habit as well as color of the Deodar, but much greater vigor and strength. Among the new* Arbor Vitae I have found Glauca, Gigantea, Compacta, Lobbii, Hoveyi, Buistii, Craigiana, and Menzeeii, perfectly hardy.

As the true Gigantic - rising to an altitude of 140 feet - is one of these, (either Lobbii or Gigantea), it is very gratifying to know we are to have such a valuable addition to our ornamental trees. Certainly Craigiana, Gigantea, and Lobbii are among the most beautiful of trees, unquestionably the most so of Arbor Vitae.

Wellingtonia seems to do perfectly well here with a little advantage of position; and the Golden Yew is decidedly hardy and most distinctive.

Cryptomerias seem to have worked up into an improved condition of health, as well as Cedars of Lebanon, though neither can be, I think, depended upon for large trees.

Deodars, I fear are hopeless, except as bushes.

Among the older evergreens, Douglasii, Clanbrasiliensis, Cephalonica, Mon-strosa, Hudsonii, Kemferi, Nobilis, Nordmandiana, Pinsapo, Orientalis, Webb-iana, Whittmaniana, etc., among the Firs; and Austriaca, Benthamiana, Fremontiana, Cembra excelss, Laricio, Moritmia, Nivea, Ponderoso, Pumilio, Pyrenaica, Pygmoes, etc., among the Pines, continue with me to withstand perfectly both summer's heat and winter's cold.

All I have ever said or written in favor of Rhododendrons, Azalias, Kalmias, and Mahonias, I wish to confirm.

I do not even think now that shade is essential for the Catawbiensis variety of Rhododendron, though the foliage is better out of much sun; but certainly neither sun nor cold affects them. Mahonias sometimes suffer a little, and occasionally die back, but sharp pruning to live wood makes them soon recover all they have lost.

The English Hollies, Laurel, Portugal Laurel, and many others of the broad-leaved evergreens, can be grown perfectly well if taken up in winter and removed to a cold pit; a system of cultivation eminently adapted to this country.

[Mr. Sargent's observations on the new evergreens are always most welcome. His devotion to this beautiful class of plants has been a benefit to the country at large. The theory of his coniferous friend is ingenious and interesting, and very suggestive. It will account for many facts that meet us daily. We are glad to see the Golden Yew among the decidedly hardy, for it is very striking and beautiful, and not appreciated half as much as it should be. - Ed].